Research Briefing
In Brief: Egyptian election 2011
A brief run-down of the first election in Egypt since the fall of Hosni Mubarak
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Research Briefing
Morocco and the 2011 election
Morocco holds an important parliamentary election on 25 November. Under constitutional reforms proposed by the King, Muhammad IV, parliament will gain significant new powers.
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Research Briefing
Women and the Afghan transition
There has been a lot of concern that Afghan women will be the main losers in the next few years as international forces withdraw and the Kabul government negotiates some sort of accommodation with the insurgency.
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Research Briefing
The Arab Uprisings
Since December 2010, the most profound process of change has affected the countries of the Arab world. The change spread quickly between the countries of the region, underlining the many common factors that provoked unrest. How the region’s revolutions progress, however, depends on the individual characteristics of each country, which are very different. This paper looks at these similarities and differences and considers the possible outcomes in each case. The legitimacy of ruling regimes, the effect of societies’ divisions along confessional lines and the role of the region’s militaries are considered.
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Research Briefing
Ukraine, the EU, Russia and Tymoshenko
The boundaries of western and Russian influence in Eastern Europe are in play in Ukraine.
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Research Briefing
In Brief: The IAEA report and action against Iran
The IAEA is to release a report on the Iranian nuclear programme on 8 or 9 November. The report will give strong evidence suggesting that Iran is working on the components of a nuclear weapon, and there has been a flurry of speculation that Israel is preparing for military action against Iran.
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Research Briefing
Palestinian statehood
Disillusioned with the US-led peace process, Palestinian leaders are seeking a UN resolution in September 2011 in favour of Palestinian statehood. The political implications of such a resolution are likely to be bigger than its legal ones. But despite the momentum gained by the Palestinian proposal, it is possible that external and internal opposition could delay the initiative.
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Research Briefing
Power struggle in Iran
This note looks at the internal politics of Iran and, in particular, the recent split in the conservative camp between supporters of Supreme Leader Ali Khamanei and the President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
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Research Briefing
Iran’s nuclear programme: an update
Shortly after taking office, US President Obama gave negotiations with Iran over its nuclear programme one year to produce results, promising to push for a new set of United Nations sanctions if there was no progress. The E3+3 countries, France, Germany and the United Kingdom plus China, Russia and the United States reached agreement on a fourth round of sanctions in June 2010 This note looks at Iran’s nuclear programme, the effects of UN, US and EU sanctions and possible alternative approaches to the problem.
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Research Briefing
Progress of the Afghan conflict: recent commentaries
This note is a compilation of excerpts from a variety of official and think tank publications on the progress of and outlook for the west’s strategy in Afghanistan.
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Research Briefing
Uprising in Tunisia
This note describes the background to the riots in Tunisia, the recent series of events leading to the flight of the president, the interim government and progress towards elections.
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Research Briefing
In brief: Arab uprisings 2011
A very brief survey of developments in the Arab world in 2011
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Research Briefing
Unrest spreads to Syria
This note looks at the background to the recent unrest in Syria and analyses briefly the threats to the regime and its sources of strength, and the position of western governments towards the regime.
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Research Briefing
Yemen on the brink of civil war?
President Saleh's departure to Saudi Arabia for treatment for injuries received in a rocket attack leaves a power vacuum in Yemen, with powerful military forces squaring up for a fight over the succession.
Total results (page 17 of 20)